Responding to The Oregonian on Measure 105

On Sunday, August 5, The Oregonian published an editorial supposedly giving “facts” about Oregon’s sanctuary law and attacking Governor-candidate Buehler for supporting its repeal.

The editorial presented an unfair, inaccurate picture of Measure 105, a measure supported by OFIR which would repeal Oregon’s illegal alien sanctuary law – ORS 181A.820.

According to the editorial, “one incident (Sergio Martinez’s rape of one woman and the sexual assault of another”), is no reason to toss a state law that has served us well over the past three decades.”

Apparently The Oregonian is unaware that there are close to 1000 criminal aliens with ICE holds on them, now serving time in the Oregon State Prison. No one gets sent to the state prison for a minor infraction. 136 are in for homicide and 474 for sex offenses (sex abuse, rape, sodomy).

A respected expert in law enforcement would certainly not agree with The Oregonian’s assertion that the state’s sanctuary law is “common sense.” U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams condemns the sanctuary law as a major hindrance in enforcing federal immigration laws He said in an article in The Oregonian last year: “Simply put, Oregon's sanctuary status declaration directly contravenes federal immigration law and threatens public safety. This has put many sheriffs in the position of choosing whether to violate state or federal law. It's an untenable position. …”

Furthermore, The Oregonian’s editorial statement that illegal entry is not a crime is very misleading. A single illegal entry is a misdemeanor but if repeated after being deported, becomes punishable as a felony. Also, Immigration and Nationality Act Section 237 (a)(1)(B) says: "Any alien who is present in the United States in violation of this Act or any other law of the United States is deportable." This means that any illegal alien and any immigrant who overstays a visa is lawfully subject to deportation at any time.

The Oregonian objects to use of a single offender to illustrate problems with Oregon’s sanctuary law, but the newspaper itself repeatedly uses examples of specific illegal aliens to milk the sympathies of gullible readers and influence them to accept illegal immigration generally.

There have been hundreds of sob stories about the woes suffered by individual illegal aliens and how cruel people are to object to their presence. Where are equivalent reports of the sufferings of the hundreds of Oregonians who’ve been killed, raped, robbed or maimed by alien criminals now sitting in our jails with ICE holds on them for likely being in this country illegally?

What would happen to the “drug crisis” if there were not an ample supply of illegal aliens to expedite international drug trafficking? What would happen to the homeless population if they did not have to compete with illegal aliens for living space and jobs at living wages?

Hopefully, voters in Oregon will see that, contrary to the views of The Oregonian, true “common sense” requires repeal of Oregon’s outdated sanctuary law, and they will stop Oregon sanctuaries by voting YES on Measure 105 in November.

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